An awkward silence fell between us as we both listened to the electric kettle heat up. I reached into a cupboard and started rubbing a kitchen towel against an already bone-dry cup and saucer.

“I just, um, finished work at school. I stayed late today.”

More silence.

Eventually I could find no more excuses to keep my back to her. Once the water had boiled, I poured it into a teapot and placed it down on the wooden table along with the teacup and saucer.

Then I drew up a seat opposite her. I looked up. She was frowning.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Aiden?”

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“You just seem a bit… uptight.”

“Ah, well, I’ve been through a lot recently. I guess it’s still taking its toll.”

I drummed my fingers on the table, desperately racking my brain for something to change the subject, help me forget the pain that consumed me at having her sit so close to me, our knees almost touching beneath the table. So close, yet so far…

She sipped her tea.

“Mmm,” she said, smiling. “You know how I like it.”

But not as well as Eli… As much as I mocked myself for it, I couldn’t stop the childish thought from flitting through my head. I was sure now that any innocent statement she made would cause my mind to start comparing myself with Eli.

“How’s, uh, everything at school? Is everything back to normal now?”

“Pretty much…”

“Good.”

More silence followed. I hated how stilted things had become between us. Even though it hurt, I realized that the only way to dissipate the awkwardness was to tackle it outright.

“Yuri tells me that you and Eli are going out. Congratulations.”

Blood rose to her cheeks, giving them a rosy glow.

“Uh, yes, actually.” She frowned. “I just wonder, how did Yuri know? Neither Eli or myself have told anyone yet.”

I cursed myself. In my hurry to make things right, I’d forgotten that I was the one who told Yuri about them.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Perhaps he or Claudia caught sight of you somewhere.”

I made a mental note to talk to Yuri and Claudia to make sure we kept this story straight.

“Ah, okay…” Adelle’s voice trailed off and she busied herself sipping tea again.

I cleared my throat, picking up a pen and fiddling with it. I felt like snapping it.

“So, uh, how did it happen? He asked you out?” I asked, throwing her a casual glance.

“He did. Soon after we both returned from Caleb’s island.” She paused, smiling fondly. “There’s a side to Eli that you wouldn’t expect. He’s got a great sense of humor once he comes out of his shell.”

I recalled the way she’d been laughing that fateful day I’d discovered the two of them in each other’s arms in the boathouse by the lake.

“I’m sure,” I said, my jaw tensing. “Unfortunately, I’ve never had the privilege of seeing that side of him before.”

“Maybe you need to get to know him better.”

“Clearly.”

She swallowed the last of her tea.

“Do you want some more?” I asked.

“No, thank you. It was lovely though. I really have to get going. I just stopped by to check you were all right.”

We both got up from the table and she picked up her papers, replacing them beneath her arm. I led her back to the front door.

She gave me another hug, her perfume tantalizing my senses.

“I’ll see you around, okay?” she said, squeezing my arm.

“Yeah. Bye.”

She threw me another smile and vanished from the spot.

Late for a date with Eli, no doubt…

Chapter 21: Rose

There was a sharp rapping at our door just before sundown. I hurried to answer it, but my father got to the door before me.

Micah stood in the doorway, dressed in a shirt and jeans. My mother had arranged for clothing for our guests, since they’d arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“Yes?”

“I’m here for—” Micah began.

I reached the door and placed a hand on my father’s shoulder.

“He’s here for me.”

My father raised his eyebrows, looking from me to the werewolf, before stepping aside and allowing me to exit.

“Watch your step with my daughter, wolf,” he said.

“Of course,” Micah said.

“And Rose.” My father’s eyes bored into mine. “Don’t stay out later than nine-thirty.”

“Okay,” I said, hurrying toward the elevator with Micah before he could impose more restrictions on me.

“Don’t mind my dad,” I muttered as we descended to the forest ground.

“I think it’s hard for anyone to not mind your father considering he’s the king of this place.”

I let out a dry chuckle.

As we hit the forest path, I looked around. “So where do you plan to turn?”

“Wherever it starts to happen. It won’t be long now. We may as well keep walking.”

We continued walking in silence. I kept shooting glances at him, expecting to see fur start sprouting through his skin. It wasn’t until we reached the beach that he grunted and stopped short.

“It’s time,” he said, his voice constricted.

I took a few steps back and stared as he sank to the floor, on his knees and hands. His body began to shake. His clothes burst beneath his expanding form and lay strewn on the ground. His head expanded. Thick fur grew over his skin. His teeth lengthened and became razor-sharp. His hands and feet balled up as his legs took shape. His whole body rippled with muscle as the transformation completed and he lifted himself up onto all fours.